Being a school nurse requires just as much education and testing as becoming a nurse in a hospital or doctor's office. School nurses may provide routine screens of children, aid in emergency illness or injury situations and care for patients until they are picked up by a parent or sent back to class.

Skills and Education

Nurses should be naturally compassionate and patient with speaking and interpersonal skills. Critical-thinking capabilities and an eye for detail are also helpful. Educational requirements vary by state, but formal training and passing an exam are always required. The Degree Directory website says that a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is often required for school nurses. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that registered nurses can obtain entry-level positions following a three-year program that grants students an associate degree in nursing.

Licensure and Certification

According to the BLS, students must pass the National Council Licensure Examination to become a licensed vocation nurse (LVN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) in any state. The Education Portal website additionally suggests obtaining certification through the National Board for Certification of School Nurses. This certification is granted only after an applicant passes the extensive exam that covers disease prevention, special health issues, health appraisals, nursing management and more.

Applying For the Job

With all prerequisites completed, becoming a school nurse could be as simple as submitting an application to surrounding primary and secondary schools. Applicants also need to provide proof of licensure or certification, a transcript or similar evidence of meeting education and training hour requirements, and a completed application, often found on the school's website, or an updated resume.

Career Outlook

Nursing is a profession that has consistently been and will continue to be in demand. The BLS expects LPN and LVN jobs to increase faster than the average occupation by 22 percent between 2010 and 2020. Better still is the projection for registered nurse positions to grow 26 percent between that period of time. Despite the optimistic outlook of the medical industry, school nurse positions may be particularly difficult to obtain as a significantly lower number of individuals are leaving the workforce compared to prior years.

About the Author

Based in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Megan Torrance left her position as the general manager for five Subway restaurants to focus on her passion for writing. Torrance specializes in creating content for career-oriented, motivated individuals and small business owners. Her work has been published on such sites as Chron, GlobalPost and eHow.